Albert played with a lot of emotion - putting his body and soul into the guitar - reminding us at times of SRV. He really gets into a groove and that passion showed in his performance. When not invoking the spirit of the Texan - Albert crafted his own voodoo by banging and bending strings combined with cool effects. Yet, Cummings also proved to be an expressive singer as he put his own spin on Van Morrison's "Crazy Love". Albert's set included plenty of potent guitar solos but during the show he invited his bass player Scott and drummer Warren to show us what they got and both soared during their moments in the spotlight in addition to providing solid support all night for Albert.

Cummings mentioned the new album stating that they would be playing some songs from TEN. During the show they presented "Need Somebody" the opening track and this one is a scorcher with a hook. It is followed on the record by the fun "Too Old To Grow Up" and the wise "Hard Way". Before performing "Meet The Man" he said that we are going a little deep sharing that the song was written the day Albert's father died. "Remember" was another reflective tune from TEN. The new tracks were eclectic and eloquent showing the evolution of an artist who works hard at his craft and in this case took a risk.

TEN is the first record where Cummings, as he explains it, "let the listener into my personal space." The music is more songwriting-focused, with the guitar being used as a tool to drive the songs home. "Meet the Man" and "Too Old to Grow Up" provide vivid portraits of people living their lives, alongside a passionate ode of love on "She's The One." A song especially close to Cummings' heart is "Beautiful Bride." It's the first song he ever sang in public - and he sang it at his own wedding.

The spotlight is beginning to shine a little brighter on the strength of his latest release.

Upon release of the new record - Guitar Player Magazine declared - "With over two decades' worth of solo releases under his belt, his recorded body of work catalogs a guitarist that has gone from strength to strength. Renowned for his raw, off-the-cuff stage performances, what you see really is what you get with this maestro."

Back at the City Winery - "Blues Makes Me Feel So Good" (2004) was a great blast from the past as was "Sleep" which was penned for Cummings' children and it sort of rocked so we wonder if it had worked as a lullaby. The show at the City Winery was a tasteful blend of sizzlers countered by softer moments reflecting the diversity of Albert's latest release and it made for a flavorful concert.

The City Winery was founded in New York City in 2008 by Michael Dorf who wanted to combine culinary and cultural experiences. Today, it has a number of locations including the one in Nashville which operates as a restaurant, venue and wine bar. The City Winery can be booked for private events and it hosts a wide range of artists such as Albert Cummings throughout their calendar year.

TEN was recorded in Nashville.

Related Links: For more information on ALBERT CUMMINGS and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Albert Cummings | City Winery Nashville